Isle of Hope Home Blends History and Comfort

- by

Mary Cornetta

Then Barry Mason of Proper English transforms it into a Holiday Haven with dazzling Christmas decor.

Written by MARY CORNETTA
Photography by KELLI BOYD

WITH BREATHTAKING VIEWS of the Skidaway River, Joe and Price Mingledorff’s home feels both historically rich and uniquely of-the-moment. Originally built in 1864 and extensively renovated in the 1920s, the residence reflects the couple’s love of old architecture, life on the water, and welcoming spaces that invite both family and friends to gather. And at Christmastime, thanks to Savannah-based decorator Barry Mason of Proper English, the space transforms into a jolly holiday hub where tradition and creativity take center stage.

The home wasn’t even on the market when Price first noticed the property. “We are big boating people — my husband definitely wanted to live on the water — and I like old houses, so we married the two,” she says. This property fit the bill, so she took the initiative. “I wrote the owner a letter to see if she would sell it, and she wrote me back!” That began a three-year-long renovation and new-build addition project (including a kitchen, great room, mudroom, laundry room, scullery, and breakfast nook) that restored the home’s beauty while giving the family everything on their wish list.

Price, originally from High Point, North Carolina, was introduced to Joe through a relative in Atlanta. The couple later moved to Ardsley Park and then The Landings before settling into their Isle of Hope home with their three daughters. Joe works with Mingledorff’s Inc., a family business based in Atlanta that sells HVAC equipment. But their roots and lifestyle are firmly anchored in Savannah, where Joe’s family has long resided.

Taking on a house that was more than 150 years old came with challenges. “We had to renovate, as there was a lot of damage,” Price explains. “The more we started taking it apart, the more damage we found.” Termites were detected, a 5-inch difference in flooring was discovered from one side of the house to the other, and — just as worrisome — there was not a single closet in the house. “I said, ‘That is just not going to work with three girls and me!’” Price jokes.

Wherever possible, they preserved the past. “This is all the original flooring that we put back,” she says, referring to the front of the home. Their goal was to honor the earlier iterations of the house while making it livable for a modern family. “We wanted to make sure we paid tribute to the neighborhood and history,” Price says. “We took it and elevated it.” Lifestyle was also key. “We like to entertain, and we have three kids, so we wanted it to be comfortable. We didn’t want people to walk in and feel like they were in a museum. I wanted it to feel lived in but still beautiful.”

Price’s affinity for artwork gives the house a distinctive personality. “I love art, and that was something I did completely on my own,” she says. Her philosophy is to blend styles. “I like to [combine] old and new. There are the very traditional portraits of my kids, and then I mix them with funky art. I like to create a little interest.” In the den hangs a piece by Savannah-based artist Shea Slemmer, which Price purchased about 15 years ago — her first investment painting.

The pink-and-yellow floral Gracie wallpaper in the dining room set the tone for the entire house. “The wallpaper was the first decision I made,” Price says. “I knew I wanted hand-painted wallpaper, and we took it and designed the whole house around it.”

Some pieces are deeply personal. In the parlor — which the family affectionately refers to as “Price’s Parlor” — hangs a framed photo of her mother’s wedding dress that Price repurposed for her own rehearsal dinner. On nearby built-in bookshelves, a trio of angel statues remains on display year-round. “My grandmother took my mom’s debutante dress and had it made into three angels, and my mom gave them to me,” says Price. “They are very special to me.”

All of this history comes alive during the holiday season. Price’s childhood memories of her mother’s exuberant Christmas trees still inspire her today. “My mom’s house is like Christmas exploded, and her trees are always wild,” she says. “So I grew up with that, and I wanted to keep the tradition.” While the kids like to tease her by calling the trees “crazy,” she said they look forward to them every year.

To help crank the “craziness” up a notch last year, the Mingledorffs hired Barry Mason of Proper English in Savannah. “He’s so creative and a true artist,” says Price. “I thought I could do it, and then he [took] it to the next level.” The only parameters she provided were the rooms she wanted to have Christmas trees in and the overall aesthetic she was looking for, and he ran with it.

The result? Three extravagantly decorated trees that exceeded the family’s expectations. The den featured a pampas-grass tree with natural textures that blended in with its organic aesthetic. The great room held a nostalgic red-themed tree adorned with Christopher Radko ornaments and under which lay the girls’ presents on Christmas  morning. “My kids like to pick the ornaments out, and so this is really their tree,” says Price. In the dining room, a glamorous, feminine tree was embellished with pearls and palms to echo the soft charm of the space.

Mason says he enjoyed the chance to highlight each room’s personality through its tree. He “loved the masculine and natural elements of the tree in the men’s den,” while the dining room tree allowed him to play with “a more delicate use of ribbons and pearls.” In the family room, he leaned into tradition, mixing the girls’ favorite ornaments with Price’s collection of Christopher Radko pieces, along with embroidered ribbon from his shop. “Each design felt right for the particular room in which it was housed,” he says.

A parlor room with grey-blue walls and ceiling and a fireplace

Mason describes his process as intuitive and collaborative, noting that his designs “come together organically.” He doesn’t begin with a rigid plan, nor does he replicate past work, which he believes keeps each project feeling more authentic. Most of the decor for the Mingledorff home came from his shop, though the Mingledorffs provided the trees.  

In addition to festooning the trees, Mason sprinkled holiday cheer in other areas, such as the evergreen and berry garland on the mantel in the parlor, the dining room table centerpiece featuring Simon Pearce glass trees, and the Annalee Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus dolls in front of the great room’s fireplace. Festive florals adorned the bar, arranged in the silver cups of Joe’s father’s Savannah Yacht Club sailing trophies, alongside his grandmother’s horse awards.

Working with the Mingledorffs was a joy for Mason. “When you are able to combine a curated Christmas for a home with classic architecture and incredible views, both inside and out, it’s a definite recipe for success, and this project was just that,” he says.

For Price, holiday traditions are about family. Although Mason decorated the three trees himself, the whimsical gingerbread house display in the butler’s pantry is a project she and the girls tackled together. They have also made a ritual out of ornament shopping, with each child picking pieces for the trees. As for when the decor goes up and comes down? “I like it done by Dec. 1 so we can enjoy it for the month,” Price says. But come Dec. 26 — or shortly thereafter — it’s all packed up and stored neatly on the home’s third floor.

It’s the blend of elegance and lived-in joy that defines the Mingledorff home — whether it’s a pool party in July or Christmas morning with wrapping paper strewn across the great room. As Price puts it, “We built this home thinking about when our kids grow up and have kids and having a space for all of them.”

Details 

Find this feature and so much more in the November/December issue of Savannah magazine!

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Mary Cornetta

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